Well, it's a mixed bag - I had a very pleasant stay there for the most part, but there are issues that should provoke caution. The hotel is right across the harbor from Halifax in Dartmouth. It’s much less expensive than any other rate I could find for a very nice room - 2 room suite with a kitchenette with a balcony with a lovely view of Halifax. I found the lowest rate on Howard Johnson’s own website, $76 CDN. WiFi was $9.95 the first day, $4.95 after, parking is $5 a day outside or $7 covered, but on street was free on the weekends. The rooms are pleasant but not luxurious, the kitchenette comes in very handy - it had a microwave, sink & fridge along with cutlery and plates. There were some signs of wear in the room (my ceiling had what looked like repaired water damage - perhaps what the previous poster mentioned?) and the housekeeping was indifferent to careless. Most seriously I came back one day to find my room door slightly open - evidently the cleaning person had not completely shut it when leaving. Nothing was missing, but that was an unpleasant surprise. Front desk staff is very friendly and helpful. The location has its advantages - it's easier to deal with a car in Dartmouth, and the view of Halifax is prettier than the view from Halifax. However, Halifax is known for its pubs and nightlife, and if you’re in Dartmouth, that means crossing a toll bridge and finding parking. Most of the Halifax hotels are right within walking distance of all of it. If you'd like to sample the nightlife, I think it would be worth it to try and stay at least one weekend night in downtown Halifax, even at an increased cost. In summary, the hotel isn't a dump, but proceed with caution.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC